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Basic-science understanding grows; so does belief in pseudoscience
AP Story out of San Francisco - 'nuff saidSAN FRANCISCO Americans know more about basic science today than two decades ago, good news that researchers say is tempered by an unsettling growth in the belief in pseudoscience such as astrology and visits by extraterrestrials. uhhh and global warming In 1988 only about 10 percent knew enough about science to understand reports in major newspapers, a figure that grew to 28 percent by 2005, according to Jon D. Miller, a Michigan State University professor. He presented his findings Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The improvement largely reflects the requirement that all college students have at least some science courses, Miller said. This way, they can better keep up with developments through the media. A panel of researchers ... arriving in their hybrids ... expressed concern that people are giving increasing credence to pseudoscience such as visits of space aliens and horoscopes. In addition, these researchers noted an increase in college students who report they are "unsure" about creationism as compared with evolution. More recent generations know more factual material about science, said Carol Susan Losh, an associate professor at Florida State University. But, she said, when it comes to pseudoscience, "the news is not good." One problem, she said, is that pseudoscience can speak to the meaning of life in ways that science does not. For example, for many women having a good life still depends on whom they marry, she said. "What does astrology speak to? Love relationships," Losh said, noting that belief in horoscopes is much higher among women than men. The disclosure that former first lady Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer resulted in widespread derision in the media, but few younger people remember that today, she said. Had to get in the obligitory Reagan dig. Miller said most readers of horoscopes are women, contributing to the listing of "female" as a leading negative factor in science literacy. Women also tended to take fewer college science courses, he said. But they run the House OK Belief in abduction by space aliens is also on the rise, Losh said. "It's not surprising that the generation that grew up on 'Twilight Zone' and early 'Star Trek' television endorsed a link between UFOs and alien spacecraft," she said. Pseudoscience discussion is often absent from the classroom, Losh said, so, "We have basically left it up to the media."< SPAN CLASS=HILITE>Yikes!!! Raymond Eve of the University of Texas-Arlington had mixed news in surveys of students at an unidentified Midwestern university. The share that believed aliens had visited Earth fell from 25 percent in 1983 to 15 percent in 2006. There was also a decline in belief in Bigfoot and in whether psychics can predict the future. But there also has been a drop in the number of people who believe evolution correctly explains the development of life on Earth and an increase in those who believe mankind was created about 10,000 years ago. Miller said a second major negative factor to scientific literacy was religious fundamentalism ... uhhh allans people??? ... and aging. Posted by: Intrinsicpilot 2007-02-18 |
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